Decision makers

Protect Freedom of Speech & Expression In West Bengal

On the evening of 12 April 2012 and in the early hours of 13 April 2012, Dr. Ambikesh Mahapatra, Professor of Chemistry at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India was assaulted by hoodlums affiliated with the current ruling party running the State Government of West Bengal and then arrested and charged by the local police for sharing a satirical cartoon online. His elderly neighbour, Mr. Subrata Sengupta was also arrested as a 'fellow conspirator'. The cartoon contained a reference to Mamata Banerjee, the Hon'ble Chief Minister replacing Dinesh Trivedi with Mukul Roy as Hon'ble Railway Minister. The graphic used photographic images of Trinamool Congress leaders and deployed dialogues taken from Satyajit Ray's film thriller “Sonar Kella' to poke fun at an imaginary discussion between Ms. Banerjee and Mr Roy on how to replace Mr. Trivedi as Railway Minister. For sending this cartoon to his acquaintances, Dr. Ambikesh Mahapatra has been charged with violating the modesty of a woman, spreading social ill-will and disrupting social harmony.

We are requesting you to ensure: 1. Withdrawal of all charges against Dr. Ambikesh Mahapatra and Mr. Subrata Sengupta 2. Withdrawal of the comments made by the two State Government ministers who labeled them as criminals before the media 3. Prosecution of those who criminally intimidated Dr. Ambikesh Mahapatra and Mr. Subrata Sengupta 4. Withdrawal of the West Bengal government's decision to police the internet, including social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, by deploying the C.I. D. to swoop down on all critical voices. 5. Right to Free Speech, a fundamental right guaranteed by Indian Constitution and recognised worldwide as one of the principal civil rights, which is being trampled with utmost violence in West Bengal.

Loksabha & RajyasabhaTo All The Honourable Members Of Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha

Letter to

Loksabha & RajyasabhaTo All The Honourable Members Of Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha

I just signed the following petition addressed to: To All The Honourable Members Of Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha.

----------------Protect Freedom of Speech & Expression In West Bengal

On the evening of 12 April 2012 and in the early hours of 13 April 2012,Dr. Ambikesh Mahapatra, Professor of Chemistry at Jadavpur University,Kolkata, India was assaulted by hoodlums affiliated with the current ruling party running the State Government of West Bengal and then arrested and charged by the local police for sharing a satirical cartoon online. His elderly neighbour, Mr. Subrata Sengupta was also arrested as a 'fellow conspirator'. The cartoon contained a reference to Mamata Banerjee, the Hon'ble Chief Minister replacing Dinesh Trivedi with Mukul Roy as Hon'ble Railway Minister. The graphic used photographic images of Trinamool Congress leaders and deployed dialogues taken from Satyajit Ray's film thriller “Sonar Kella' to poke fun at animaginary discussion between Ms. Banerjee and Mr Roy on how to replaceMr. Trivedi as Railway Minister. For sending this cartoon to his acquaintances, Dr. Ambikesh Mahapatra has been charged with violating the modesty of a woman, spreading social ill-will and disrupting social harmony.

We are requesting you to ensure:1. Withdrawal of all charges against Dr. Ambikesh Mahapatra and Mr.Subrata Sengupta2. Withdrawal of the comments made by the two State Governmentministers who labeled them as criminals before the media3. Prosecution of those who criminally intimidated Dr. AmbikeshMahapatra and Mr. Subrata Sengupta4. Withdrawal of the West Bengal government's decision to police theinternet, including social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter,by deploying the C.I. D. to swoop down on all criticalvoices.5. Right to Free Speech, a fundamental right guaranteed by Indian Constitution and recognised worldwide as one of the principal civil rights, which is being trampled with utmost violence in West Bengal.